Lockdown in West Bengal extended till April 30 as coronavirus cases surge

Lockdown in West Bengal has been extended till April
30 as cases of the deadly coronavirus continue to surge, Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee said post a meeting of all the CMs with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi today. Earlier today, West Bengal chief secretary Rajiv
Sinha had said that the state government will impose a 14-day 'total
lockdown' in 10 hotspots from where several COVID-19 cases have been
reported.

With six more cases of the coronavirus in West
Bengal, Mamata Banerjee said this takes the total number of active
patients in the state to 95. "We are thinking of allowing bakeries to
function but proper protocol should be followed so that no violation
takes place," she said today.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry today objected to "gradual
dilution" of lockdown in West Bengal. The ministry said shops of
non-essential goods were allowed to open in the state and the police
also gave permission to religious gatherings. In a communication to the
Chief Secretary and the DGP of West Bengal, the Home Ministry said there
is no regulation in vegetable, fish and mutton markets and
social-distancing norms are being violated at these places in the state.

"As
per further reports received from security agencies, gradual dilution
of lockdown has been reported from West Bengal, with an increase in the
number of exceptions being provided by the state government," the home
ministry letter said. For instance, shops relating to non-essential
items have been allowed to function, it said. The ministry said there is
no regulation in vegetable, fish and mutton markets where people have
been thronging in complete violation of social-distancing norms in
Rajabazaar, Narkel Danga, Topsia, Metiaburz, Gardenreach, Ikbalpur and
Maniktala in Kolkata. Significantly, areas such as Narkel Danga are
reportedly witnessing more COVID-19-like cases.

"It
has been reported that police have been allowing religious
congregations. Free ration has been distributed not through the
institutional delivery system but by political leaders. This may have
resulted in spread of COVID-19 infection," the letter said. The ministry
said such activities are in violation of the central government's
orders issued from time to time under the Disaster Management Act, 2005
and are liable for penal action under the Act.

"It is requested
that strict action be taken in the matter and a report in this regard
may be furnished to this Ministry urgently. "It is further requested to
take measures to prevent recurrence of such violations in future," it
said..

https://www.indiatvnews.com (With PTI inputs)

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Lockdown in West Bengal has been extended till April 30 as cases of the deadly coronavirus continue to surge, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said post a meeting of all the CMs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi